Bob Dylan: 'People Who Complain About Me Plagiarizing Them Are Pussies'

Bob Dylan has hit out at those who have accused him of being a plagiarist, describing them as "wussies and pussies".

Posted on Sep 13, 2012 01:01 pm

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In a heated interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Bob Dylan has hit out at those who have accused him of being a plagiarist, describing them as "wussies and pussies".
Dylan, responding to claims that he had "stolen" lyrics from Junichi Saga's 1991 book "Confessions Of A Yakuza" and the 19th century poetry of Henry Timrod, went on to suggest that people should be grateful for him using their works in his songs as it gives them greater exposure:
"...as far as Henry Timrod is concerned, have you even heard of him? Who's been reading him lately? And who's pushed him to the forefront? Who's been making you read him?"
The songwriter went on to describe his plagiarism critics as the same kind of people who had branded him a "Judas" for playing the electric guitar at Newport folk festival:
"These are the same people that tried to pin the name Judas on me. Judas, the most hated name in human history! If you think you've been called a bad name, try to work your way out from under that. Yeah, and for what? For playing an electric guitar? As if that is in some kind of way equitable to betraying our Lord and delivering him up to be crucified. All those evil motherf--kers can rot in hell."
Dylan's 35th studio album, "Tempest", was released earlier this month. It includes the singer's tribute to John Lennon, "Roll On John", as well as a 14 minute epic about the Titanic which is the album's title track.
This is not the first time that the singer has been embroiled in a plagiarism controversy. A series of paintings that he produced in 2011 were accused of being uncredited tracings of famous photographs.

True. But if someone re-published the entire works of Timrod under their own name and no one noticed would that be ok? No.
You can't just put a line in and assume that everyone will think "Ah, Timrod!"

Maybe it's not plagiarism but it is misleading and dishonest. It is normal to assume that the lyrics a person sings were written by them unless stated otherwise. You don't listen to a song and think "Ooh I wonder what 19th century poet wrote these lyrics."
I'd like to know if Timrod, Saga or others are credited or thanked or mentioned at all on his album.
I don't really mean to challenge him alone, I think that's a standard everyone should live up to. If Coldplay did it people would call it plagiarism. Really, I class it as plagiarism.
Plus, Dylan didn't bring our attention to these writers - the people who spotted the lifted lyrics did. So he's claiming their work!
I hate to have a go at him, I love him. However, although being Bob Dylan gives you the right to do what you want creatively, it does not give you a get out of jail free card (The Monopoly Guy, et al.)

He thinks Judas is the most hated man in history? I would have thought it was Hitler.
Nothing he said surprises me, most musicians that achieve the status of "cultural icon" usually go crazy and get a god complex.

Hitler was only around 70 years ago, and is still revered by certain people even today as a great leader. Judas has been the epitome of the traitor figure for almost 2000 years. In the Divine Comedy, the 3 most prominent traitors were Brutus, Cassius and Judas who were all being chewed on by the 3 headed Satan figure. Dyalns comment makes sense.

That statement is always the stupidest thing I've ever read. He was a Jew... on the technicality that there wasn't such thing as Christianity yet? The fact that he couldn't exactly accept himself as the savior? Is that your argument? Good job, you're so intelligent and I wish I was you.

Not that there is really a justification to genocide, but to generalize that anyone who ever supported one as either just a racist or psychopath would be untrue. Most of them are regular people, under a sad set of circumstances leading to such a catastrophe. To disregard them as simply psychopaths, shows a lack of understanding of the situation, and which makes it easier for such an event to reoccur. The circumstances are not as hard to come to as many believe, sadly.

If quoting other pieces of art is plagiarism, then pretty much all art is plagiarism and there are no "original" artists out there (excluding some avant garde artists). Is quoting real life plagiarism too?
Some peoples ownership of artistic ideas is astounding to me. Ideas are meant to be shared, not owned solely by single persons. Quoting and referencing other works is one of the oldest techniques and traditions of art in the world, but now we are going to call it plagiarism?
The idea of copyrighting has really poisoned art in the modern world in that a person can't even use an idea without people screaming plagiarism often. It kills a lot of genuine ideas because artists are afraid to do anything that could be accused for stealing. Even if their art comes straight from the heart, and has their unique viewpoint attached.

Are you joking? You act as if he's this obscure act. Bob Dylan is one of the most iconic musicians, artists and poets of all time. Even an as image, his signature curly hair, sunglasses, and black outfit is widely recognized. He's just as much a household name, if not more, than Jim Morrison. I think the "average joe" is aware of Bob Dylan... give me a break haha